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Mike McDonald leads the Recess Guardians.

Humanitarian honours

Humanitarians gathered on May 4 as notable U of S alumni were honoured at the Red Cross Power of Humanity Luncheon, which recognized extraordinary humanitarian efforts.

Mike McDonald (BScKin'10), founder and executive of Recess Guardians, was recognized with the Young Humanitarian of the Year award. Operating since 2008, the program is an initiative to encourage students to play and be physically active during recess. The Recess Guardians program is operating in more than 100 schools, and has worked with over 30,000 youth throughout the province.

"We are giving everyone the chance to be a leader and not just the so-called ‘leaders' of the school," said McDonald, describing the most satisfying part of the program. "It is incredible to see a student who may be really shy or quiet, step up and instruct a game in front of their peers for the first time."

David Dubé (BA'85) and his wife, Heather Ryan, were named the 2016 Red Cross Humanitarians of the Year for their extensive philanthropic contributions.

"It is humbling for us for sure," said Dubé of the award. "We are simply trying to do the right thing in our daily lives."

]David Dubé.
David Dubé.

The Heather Ryan and L. David Dubé Foundation has contributed more than $6 million since its inception to initiatives including the Children's Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan, St. Paul's Hospital Foundation and the Soldier On Fund. Dubé and Ryan have also given back generously to the U of S, with several contributions to Huskies Athletics and the Western College of Veterinary Medicine

See more at Alumni News.
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